Little Boy Billee

De oorspronkelijke tekst van dit lied, onder de titel ‘Little Billee’, werd geschreven door William Makepeace Thackery. Hij was een Engelse romanschrijver (1811-1863) die beroemd was om zijn satirische werk, in het bijzonder om Vanity Fair.

De tekst van Thackery onderging door mondelinge overlevering een grondige verandering. Daarom kan het lied min of meer traditioneel worden genoemd.

There were three men of Bristol City,

              There were three men of Bristol City,

They stole a ship and went to sea,

              They stole a ship and went to sea.

There was Gorging Jack and Guzzling Jimmy,

              There was Gorging Jack and Guzzling Jimmy,

And also Little Boy Billee

              And also Little Boy Billee

They stole a tin of captain's biscuits,

              They stole a tin of captain's biscuits,

And one large bottle of whiskey.

              And one large bottle of whiskey.

But when they reached the broad Atlantic,

              But when they reached the broad Atlantic,

They had nothing left but one split pea.

              They had nothing left but one split pea.

Said Gorging Jack to Guzzling Jimmy,

              Said Gorging Jack to Guzzling Jimmy,

"We've naught to eat — let's eat Billee."

              "We've naught to eat — let's eat Billee."

"O Little Boy Billee, we'll kill and eat yur.

              "O Little Boy Billee, we're going to kill and eat yur.

"So undo the top button of your little chemie1."

              "So undo the top button of your little chemie."

"O may I say my catechism,

              "O may I say my catechism,

"That my dear mother taught to me?"

              "That my dear mother taught to me?"

But when he reached the Eleventh Commandment,

              But when he reached the Eleventh Commandment,

He cried "Yo Ho, for land I see!"

              He cried "Yo Ho for land I see!"

"I see Jerus’lem and Madagascar,

              "I see Jerus’lem and Madagascar,

"And North and South Amerikee"

              "And North and South Amerikee"

"I see the British fleet at anchor,

              "I see the British fleet at anchor,

"And our Lord Nelson, K.C.B2."

              "And our Lord Nelson, K.C.B."

They hung Gorging Jack and Guzzling Jimmy,

              They hung Gorging Jack and Guzzling Jimmy,

But they made an admiral of Little Boy Billee.

              But they made an admiral of Boy Billee.